What I Learned From Traveling
By Olivia M.
Refugee Youth Project in Baltimore, 2018
By Brielle Friedman
Fiji, 2005; Thailand; New Orleans
By Liz Ronzio
Tanzania; Fiji; India; China; Southeast Asia
By Andrea Bouch
Australia, 1998
By Charlie M.
Costa Rica, 2003; Thailand 2004; Gap Year – Backpacked 22 Countries with Rustic Pathways
By Lena Baker
Tanzania, 2008; Thailand, 2009
Stories from Rustic Travelers
By Michael, Brielle, and Sam
Peru, Fiji, New Orleans
The Impact of a Gap Year
By Kelsey, Sharif, and Lance
Spanish Immersion and Service Gap Year; Golden Lands and World Heritage Gap Year; Southeast Asia and India Gap Year, 2015
Hear from Two Alumni Parents
By David and Melissa
Australia, Cambodia Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, India, Peru, Mystery Trip
Travel Scholarship Inspires Indian Student to Help Endangered Elephants
Apurva Anand
Thai Elephant Conservation, Thailand 2023
From Student Traveler to Journalist: How Teen Programs Helped Inspire a Career
Mark Scaglione
Costa Rica 2015 | India 2016
Climbing to New Heights
Mackenzie Bernhardt
Sacred Valley Service, Peru 2022
Unforgettable Experiences That Were Worth the Wait
Bridget Day
Turtle Conservation Project, Costa Rica 2022
Finding Peace and Purpose in the Mountains
Krish Khemlani
Himalayan Trekking and Temples, Nepal 2022
The Little Things Matter The Most
By Cora Nicolaisen
Heart of the Jungle 2021
Finding Joy in the Little Things
By Sophia Kishimoto
Peru 2021
Where Are They Now? A Collection of Short Stories
By Tyler, Nuria, Anna and Raphaël
The Trip That Forever Changed Me
By Kanika Patel
Pura Vida Service 2021
From Surfboards to Building Blocks
By Caroline Bae
Surf and Service 2021
I Unplugged from Technology and Felt Free in Peru
By Molly Caffry
Andes to Amazon 2021
Discovering a Love for Giving Back
By Ella Richter
Heart of the Jungle, Costa Rica 2021
Markuray: The Village that Changed My Life
By Zach Gross
Sacred Valley Service, 2017 | Bats, Hats & Gloves in the Dominican Republic, 2018
Dreams and Hardwork
By Zebulan Lyons
Sun, Sand and International Service 2017 | Rice Fields, Monks, and Smiling Children 2018
More Than Just a Summer Trip
By Quinn Bissetta
Soccer & Service in La Paz, Costa Rica 2013 | Mountain Air and Village Service, Dominican Republic 2014
If Only I Could Be in High School Again
By Victoria TadewaldCaribbean Adrenaline 2014 | Seven Wonders of Australia 2015 | Leader Corps: Peru 2018
My Thank You Letter to Rustic Pathways
By Deandra Forde
Summer Camp Leadership 2013 | Advanced Leadership Challenge 2014
How Rustic Taught Me to Find the Joy in the Simple Moments of Life
By Linnea Martin
Spring to the Sacred Valley 2017 | Intro to Community Service in Fiji 2017
Educating with the World
By Charlotte Ide
Tanzania 2015 | Dominican Republic 2017
Finding My Passion
By Valentina Baccianella
Sticky Rice Service Adventure, 2014 | From the Ground Up: A Seminar in International Development, 2015 | Elephants and Amazing Thailand, 2016
My Spark
By Kristen GadboisElephant Training and the Hill Tribe Experience, 2015 | Sun, Sand, and International Service, 2016
Planting the Seed for Global Consciousness
By Perrin Duncan
Ghana, 2010 | Climbing Kilimanjaro, 2013
How Travel Changed My Life
By Holly HenkelSurf and Service in Costa Rica, 2017 | Island Hopping and Diving, 2018
My Attempt to Change a Life Through Words
By Addison Rhodes
Highlands and Islands Service Immersion 2018 | Culture and the Crater 2019
Life Lessons Through Travel
By Rachel S.
Summer Camp Leadership, 2015 | Beyond Capitol Hill, 2016 | Rebuilding New Orleans, 2017
Discovering My Path
By Mary Horton
Intro to Community Service 2018
Being Brave About Who I Am
By Tingyuan ChenThe Amazing Thailand Adventure, 2014 | Escape to the Fiji Islands, 2015
Taking A Leap of Faith
By Rachel Rowland
Intro to Community Service: Fiji 2017 | Ricefields, Monks, and Smiling Children: Thailand 2018 | Off the Map: Mongolia 2019
The Rustic Recap
By Hannah GutensteinThailand Wanderer, 2016 | Moroccan Wanderer, 2015
Profound Realizations from a Mystery Trip
By Taylor Badt
Mystery Trip 2017 | Moroccan Wanderer 2018
Proving People Wrong
By Ethan Guinn
India 2017 | Fiji 2018 | Tanzania 2019
Friends that Became Family, Places that Became Home
By Freja Tellefsen
Thai Elephant Conservation Project, 2018 | Highlands and Islands Service Immersion, 2019 | Sun, Sand, and International Service, Fiji 2019
What Really Matters
By Lil Keller
Sacred Valley Service 2016 | Ultimate Latin America 2017 | Elephants and Amazing Thailand 2018
There’s No Limit to Love
By Socia Morrish
Service in the Clouds, India 2017 and the Yeti Expedition, Nepal 2017
Get Lost, Then You’ll Be Found
By Jaron Flynn
Golden Lands and World Heritage Gap Semester 2018
How My Gap Year Prepared Me For So Much More Than Just College
By Hannah Repke
Rustic Pathways Gap Year
Why I Took a Gap Year Before Becoming the First in My Family to Go to College
By Sharif Campbell
Golden Lands and World Heritage Gap Year, 2015
The #sorustic Spirit
By Caroline, Molly, and Natalie
Seven Wonders of Australia | Moroccan Wanderer | Soccer and Service in Costa Rica
Go After What You Care About
By Dan, Sasha, and Molly
Photojournalism in Thailand and Laos | Service in the Clouds, India | Marine Life and Coastal Restoration in Fiji
A Transformative Gap Year
Interview with Cailey Newton
Ricefields, Monks, and Smiling Children | Sacred Valley Service in Peru
Travel Lessons and Advice from a Gap Year
Interview with Zoe and Camila
Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar Gap Year | Gap Year, Southeast Asia
Diving Into Unfamiliar Territory
By Isabella, Cameron, and Maria
Intro to Community Service in Fiji | The Amazing Thailand Adventure | Come With Nothing, Go Home Rich | Mountain Air and Village Service | Namaste India | Sacred Valley Service
How to Continue Service After Your Program Ends
Interviews with Nicole, Maddie, and Lena
Come With Nothing, Go Home Rich | Thailand Hill Tribe
Advice on Immersing Yourself in a New Country
By Emma and Carolyn
Namaste India | The Thai Elephant Conservation Project | Green Island Service | Village School Service, Fiji
From Tentmates in Peru to Roommates
Interview with Bridget and Olivia
Sacred Valley Service 2015
Five Rustic Trips Later
By Megan Kahrs
Rebuilding New Orleans 2015 | Good Works and the Grand Canyon 2016 | Island Living and Eco Service 2017 | Wonders of Laos, 2018 | Culture and the Crater 2019
Travel Lessons Carry Teen Through Tragedy and Illness
Sebastian Hill
Costa Rica 2011 | Australia 2012 | Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam 2013 | Fiji 2014 | Morocco 2016
A 2008 Thailand Adventure Launches a Life of Travel
Kristen Ankeny
Thailand 2008
Collecting Memories in Faraway Places
Elyse Lebrun
Surf and Service Costa Rica 2021, Big Fiji Explorer 2022
Making Lifelong Friends Far from Home
Piper Salmon
Southeast Asian Adventurer, Thailand 2022
An Emotional Journey Through the Frigid Wilderness
Hailey Brown
Costa Rica 2017, Alaska 2022
Goal-Inspiring Experiences
By Lola Amaya
Dominican Republic 2016 | Morocco 2018
Back to the Bateyes
By Jessica Sheehan
Dominican Republic 2017 & 2021 | Peru 2018
Where Are They Now? A Collection of Short Stories Pt. 2
By Allison, Griffin, Robin and Jillian
Living in the Moment
By Nick Makris
Hawaii Service 2021
A Found Family in Costa Rica
By Olivia Venneman
Heart of the Jungle 2021
The Rustic Experience is Like No Other
By Leelee Caudill
Peru 2014 | Fiji 2015 | Southeast Asia 2016
Unforgettable Experiences in Morocco
By Ashley Angrimson
Moroccan Wanderer 2021
Nothing Short of Epic
By Lillian Stone
Service in the Clouds in India 2017 | Sacred Valley Project in Peru 2018 | Tanzania 2019
The Little Things Can Mean The Most
By Liv Woodruff
Marine Life and Coastal Restoration, Dominican Republic 2019
It’s Okay to Be Human
By Hannah Soal
The Hill Tribe Orphanage and Refugee Camp, Thailand 2013
Just Jump
By Kelly Kane
Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica 2017
Finding Me
By Jill Frazo
Peru 2018 | Dominican Republic 2019
Taking Rustic Home
By Abigail Golden
Rustic Pathways Children’s Home in Thailand 2016 | Innovation in Action: Cuba 2017
Creating Community
By Isabel Arya
Bri Bri Village Service Experience, 2016 | Mountain Air and Village Service, 2017 | Intro to Community Service in Thailand, 2018
Just One of the Boys
By Chaviva Nicholas
Traveling Soccer and Service Team, Costa Rica 2019
Unforgettable Memories in the Land of Smiles
By Fumie Watanabe
Medical Service Certification Program 2018
Standing on Top of the World
By Kimberly Markowitz
Climbing Kili 2018
Lessons from Beyond the Classroom
By Charlotte Maracina
Sun, Sand, and Service in Fiji, 2017
Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable
By Sammi Fuller
Sun, Sand, and International Service in Fiji, 2015 | Peru Sacred Valley Service, 2016
Little Frustrations That Lead to Big Improvements
By Patricia
Into to Community Service in Thailand x The Rustic Pathways Children’s Home, 2018
Only Regret: Not Going Earlier
By Abigail Evangelista
Amazing Thailand Adventure 2018 | Spring to Fiji 2019
What Travel is Really All About
By Pablo Gonzalez Ruiz
Fiji Leadership Challenge, 2015 | Costa Rica Adventure, 2014
Elephants, Tooth Pain, and Fireworks
By Caitlyn Morris
Rebuilding New Orleans 2013 | Thai Elephant Conservation Project 2015
The Land of Smile
By Patricia
Into to Community Service in Thailand x The Rustic Pathways Children’s Home, 2018
You Can Do Anything
By Camille Greening
Awesome Aussie Service 2018 | Ricefields, Monks, and Smiling Children 2019
My Rustic Pathways Experience
By Kerem Güra
California Dreaming 2016 | Rebuilding New Orleans 2015
Taking Action at Home
By Nick Makris
You, a Roo’, and Australia Zoo, 2019 | Thailand Deep Dive and Global Issues Design Challenge, 2020
Traveling Intentionally
By Kylie Deverick
Fiji Service Excursion, 2018
Why I Ditched My Friends and Traveled Alone
By Dany G.
Rebuilding New Orleans 2014
The Summer of No Regrets
By Sully Sim
Culture and the Crater, 2018 | Spring to the Sacred Valley, 2019 | Hanoi to Halong, Hill Tribe Service and Elephant Conservation, 2019
How A Student Travel Program Helped Me Overcome My Anxiety
By Megan Gallagher
Rebuilding New Orleans, 2012 | Big Fiji Explorer, 2013
Two Summers in Video
By Nicho and Jake
Off the Map, Peru | Mountain Air and Village Service, Dominican Republic
How Travel Changed Everything
By Taylor Brennan
Sacred Valley Service, 2015 | Surf and Service in Costa Rica, 2016
Finding Ease in the Unknown
By Antonette Liao
Critical Issues Summit: Gender Equality, 2019
My Experience During Spanish Immersion and Service
By Ilana Hamer
Spanish Immersion and Service in Costa Rica, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, 2017
Shwedagon and Sunrises
By Brooke Cornetet
South Pacific Service and Ocean Skills Semester, 2013 | Golden Lands and World Heritage, 2014
7,295 Miles of Gratitude
By Mazzy Rosenast
The Children’s Home and Elephant Sanctuary Project, 2018 | Mountain Air and Village Service, 2019
Why You Should Take a Gap Year
By Aline Aronsky
India – Tanzania – Morocco – Australia, 2015
How Rustic Shaped My Being
By André Mershad Safari and a Splash of Paradise 2014 | Moroccan Wanderer 2015 | Escape to the Fiji Islands 2016 | Epic Outback 2016 | The Backroads of Southeast Asia 2017 | Great Barrier Reef Dive Expedition 2017
2016 Top Fundraisers
By Madi, Cate, and Sydney
Hill Tribe Service and Elephant Conservation | Culture and the Crater | Souqs and Service | Nicoya Turtle Expedition,
Program Highlights and Advice to Travelers
Interview with Eric and Besart
Come With Nothing: The Mekong Expedition | Marine Life and Coastal Restoration
Seven Countries – A Lifetime of Memories
Madeline Moore
Fiji 2016 | Thailand 2017 | Tanzania 2018 | Peru 2018 | Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina 2019 | Morocco 2019
The Best Sweet Sixteen
Ella Russell
Pura Vida Service, Costa Rica 2022
Getting Up Close with Nature
Taya Puner
Wild Galápagos: Eco-Service in Ecuador 2022
Lessons Learned from a Discouraged Mother Turtle
Sage Kehr
Turtle Conservation Project, Costa Rica 2022
Launching a Life of Service
By Hope Melton
Arizona 2015 | Costa Rica 2016 | Dominican Republic 2017
I Met My Life-Long Best Friend in the Dominican Republic
By Alison Sawyer
Summer Camp Leadership 2016
Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica
By Katelyn Sentnor
Turtle Conservation Project 2021
Where Are They Now? A Collection of Short Stories Pt. 3
By Gia, Kylie, Brynn and Lawrence
American To Peruvian
By Lucy Brada
Andes to Amazon 2021
How Costa Rica Made me a Better Individual
By Zoe Ogden
Pura Vida Service 2021
Discovering Yourself Outside of your Comfort Zone
By Elizabeth Pasquale
Southeast Asia 2017
Traveling to Costa Rica in 2021
By Marina Brockus
Turtle Conservation Project 2021
Environmental Impact in Puerto Rico
By Kelley Cardiff
Puerto Rico Paradise 2021
More Than Just a Trip Abroad
By Annalise Bell
Morocco 2017
Pause and Be Present
By Esmeralda Aguilar
Summer Camp Leadership, Costa Rica 2018
What it Means to be a Traveler, not a Tourist
By Audrey Mitchell
Big Fiji Explorer, 2017 | Moroccan Wanderer, 2018 | Southeast Asian Adventure, 2019
Experiencing Gratitude Among the Most Gracious Cultures
By Reese Peters
Island Living and Eco-Service 2017
Rustic Pathways Reflection
By Stephanie Guza
Sun, Sand and International Service 2017
Traveling Back in Time
By Tal Nagar
Island Living and Eco-Service, 2017 | Sun, Sand, and International Service, 2018
A Conversation Under The Stars
By Emily Mae
Souqs and Service, 2018
Breaking Barriers Through Rustic Ties
By Sarah KarpChildren of India, 2014 | Ultimate African Adventure, 2015
Gaining the Understanding of Others
By Ryan Barish
Heart of the Jungle 2017 | Big Fiji Explorer 2018 | Southeast Asian Adventurer 2019
Making the World a Better Place
By Holly LippmanSurf and Service, 2014 | Highlands and Islands Service Immersion, 2015 | Highlands and Islands Service, 2016
Discovering My Path Within a Changing World
By Alexandra Pyne
Fiji Diver’s Dream 2015 | Caribbean Adrenaline 2016
My Introduction to the World of Wildlife Conservation
By Brice Cooper
Thai Elephant Conservation Project, Thailand 2015 | Turtle Conservation Project, Costa Rica 2016
A Journey to Remember
By Maria Araujo
The Hill Tribe Support and Refugee Camp Experience x The Amazing Thailand Adventure, 2015
Wonderful Little Moments
By Rachel JudsonMountain Air and Village Service, 2015 | Rebuilding New Orleans, 2016
Gaining New Perspectives with Travel
By Pablo Ruiz Segura
Intro to Community Service, 2014 | Sarapiquí: A Tropical Service Adventure, 2014 | Surf and Service 2015-2016 | Seven Wonder of Australia, 2017
Learning to Work for Joy
By Juliet Onufrak
Amazon Explorer, 2013
Finding My Inner Unicorn in Scotland
By Cymone Van Marter
Dominican Republic, 2018
Cuba: Through My Lenses
By Lillian Mahamedi
Intro to Photography in Cuba, 2017
4 Letters from Students
By Charlotte, Cassie, Ryan and Izzy
Costa Rica, Fiji Islands, Morocco, Tanzania, Thailand
I Used My Travel Experience to Write the Essay that Got Me Into College
By Alex Boulet
Climbing Kili, 2011
A Truly Life-Changing Experience
Interview with Christopher Regan
Australia, 1995
Rustic Reflections
By Kaleigh, Tristan, and Allie
Seven Wonders of Australia | Moroccan Wanderer | Soccer and Service in Costa Rica
Travel Influenced Post-High School Plans
By Basil, Rachael, and Sloane
Mountain Air and Village Service in Dominican Republic | Turtle Conservation Project | Off the Map Ghana | Amazing Thailand and Elephants
Eye-Opening Experiences
By Nabilla, Sarah, and Maggie
Souqs and Service | The Ultimate African Adventure | Children of India | The Thai Elephant Conservation Project | The Hill Tribe Support and Refugee Camp
Become an Epic Global Citizen
Meet Sasha High
Floating Villages, Cambodia 2010 | India, 2011
Travel Taught Me to Stand Up for What I Believe In
By Carey Davis
Bribrí Villages Service Experience, 2014 | The Thai Elephant Conservation Project, 2015 | Culture and the Crater, 2016 | Dreams of a Nation, Myanmar, 2017
A Continued Journey into Positive Impact
Interview with Calista Schloessmann
Mountain Air and Village Service, 2019
How Travel Helped me Identify my Academic and Career Path
By Heather Lyon
India, 2006 | Sacred Valley Service, 2007
The Power of a Gap Year
By Mikaela Gillman
Latin American Semester, 2012
Are You Ready to Change the World?
By Sarah Altieri
Good Works and the Grand Canyon 2015 | Beyond Capitol Hill: Refugee Youth Tutoring in Baltimore 2016 | Rebuilding New Orleans 2017 | Marine Life and Coastal Restoration, Dominican Republic 2018
Prioritizing Our World Rather Than My World
By Gabrielle Antolovic
Big Fiji Explorer 2012 | Medical Service Certification Program 2013 | Elephants and Amazing Luang Prabang 2013 | Lake Titicaca Service Adventure in Peru 2014
How Rustic Pathways Has Changed My Life
By Annabelle Bragalone
Escape to Fiji 2014 | Elephant Training and the Hill Tribe Experience 2015 | Awesome Aussie Service Adventure 2016 | Ultimate Latin America 2017
Inspired to Give Back
Interview with Maya
Thai Elephant Conservation Project
Have a Story to Share?
Everybody has a story and we want to hear yours. Not only do we want to hear it, we want to share it with students who will be traveling with us, your fellow Rustic alumni, and the Rustic family! We want everyone to know how great our alumni are, but more importantly, we want them to be inspired.
Rustic Pathways Alumni are known for being hard working, dedicated and solutions-oriented. We want to hear how your #sorustic experience helped you carry forth these and other traits beyond your experience with us.
Are you in school? Graduated? Do you have a new cool job? Or, do you have a cool story of making an impact and engaging with the world? We’d love to hear it!